12

Chapter

13

Eineriel had seen Grand Lord Vladya and Grand Lord Ottal, huot the one called Grand Lord Zaiper. Whenever his name was mentioned, the Urekai maids and human slaves would all look terrified. Every single one of them.

"He is the worst of all the grand lords. The slave girl, Annie, had whispered to him the day before, her eyes wide as she looked around to make sure no one was listening and the hallway was empty. "Lord Ottai can be sweet when he wants to be. and Lord Vladya is very scary. But like Lord Ottai, he is fair and just in his leadership. But Lord Zaiper?"

Amie had glanced around again. "He is a monster. His slaves die every day. Some starve, others are tortured for fun, and some are even raped to death. His slave masters are the worst, and Lord Zaiper does not care. He does not even see us as human." Emeriel's eyes had widened to the root of his hair. "This lord is worse than Lord Vladya?"

"Actually, Grand Lord Vladya is not that bad," Amie had stated firmly, "When it comes to ruling and running the kingdom, he is as fair as you could hope for from a Urekai lord. He just hates humans. He never holds back when dealing with humans. Compared to Lord Zaiper, though, he is an angel. The younger girl had paused. "Stay away from Lord Zaiper at all

CONES.

A knock broke into Emeriel's thoughts as Amie poked her head through the door, her smile bright.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked cheerfully.

Emeriel nodded and followed her outside.

Later.

Boris, the Urekai slave master, watched Emeriel's every move with the sharp gaze of a hawk stalking its prey in the deepest parts of an ancient forest.

Emeriel felt deeply uneasy as he placed bottles of wine into a wooden barrel. He was so uncomfortable that he almost dropped a bottle in a moment of panic.

Luckily, his reflexes saved him, and he caught it just in time.

A good thing too, because breaking a wine bottle would mean fifteen lashes from the burning whip-and two nights in the dungeon, according to Master Gaine, the second Urekai slave master. Pull yourself together, Emeriel! Do not look at him. Stop glancing his way!

Picking up another bottle of red wine, Emeriel placed it carefully into the barrel with the others on the lower level.

"Two white wines and a perry for the twins at table four, Amie said as she walked up to him. She was one of the slaves serving drinks to the many customers at the tavern.

"Coming right up, Emeriel said quickly. He prepared the order and handed it to Arle, who took the bottles and rushed off

Glancing at Master Boris again, Emeriel noticed his creepy eyes were now following Amie instead.

eyes were

BLACKSTONE DOMAIN, RAVENSHADOW FORTRESS

Sat, Dec

Chapter 13

GRAND LORD VLADYA

Livia had informed Vladya

on his

4671%

had passed, and the girl had not regained consciousness. Grand Lord Vladya had started to doubt if

would

had considered ordering his goldiers to dispose of her body, but he refrained. Instead, he instructed his healer to care for her

held answers to questions Vladya desperately needed. Answers to the

chamber where the girl was being kept. They opened the door, and Vladya stepped

AEKEIRA

figure step they

room. This was the second time she had been in his presence, and this

Vladya terrified her

The herbs had provided some relief, but they had not completely erased the pain. Ackeira

to rejoin the living. I was beginning to wonder

my lord, she replied truthfully, meeting his eyes.

his beast? Honestly, I did not

understand what you mean, my lord," she retorted. Her tone was sharp,

me to

me, or I will summon the nearest slave master to strip you and

of rebellion in her vanished as her

tell me everything that happened from the

words a few times as she tried to distance herself from the horrible memory

times. I thought I would die. Truly, do not

and Aekeira made sure to look innocent. To look as

2/3

Sat, Dec 28

Chapter 13

071%

71%2

"Rest well and take your medicines, for in five nights, our people will celebrate the moonlight festival. On that night, you will return

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255